Despite $914,084,981 Splurge After Cristiano Ronaldo’s Arrival, Saudi Pro League Falls Behind Premier League’s Billions

Published 09/02/2023, 2:17 PM EDT

The Saudi Pro League embarked on a spending spree of unprecedented proportions, with a staggering total outlay of $914,084,981. It all began with the marquee signing of soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo, a move that sent shockwaves through the sports world. It represents the league’s determined effort to transform itself into a soccer powerhouse by attracting a galaxy of world-class talents.

Despite this colossal investment, the Saudi Pro League still finds itself trailing far behind the Premier League’s astronomical wealth. With clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United spending big on their requirements, it will take time for Saudi to topple their investments.

Premier League Vs. Saudi Pro League

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The reasons for the big gap in expenditure are many. But, the one that makes the most sense is that Saudi Pro League is a new league that’s comparatively new in town. The Premier League is a preferred destination for many top elite and world-class players. There are big names and big brands associated with the Premier League. Saudi has managed to spend big and attract many top talents but it remains far away from the soccer hub which is the Premier League.

Saudi Pro League has a total market value of around $1.16 billion, which compared to the amount of EPL is 10 times less. English Premier League’s market value is estimated to be around a staggering $11.39 billion. Saudi is behind in market valuation in the top five leagues. Serie A has a market valuation of $4.97 billion, Bundesliga is valued at $4.29 billion, La Liga is at $5.07 billion while Ligue 1 stands at $3.81 billion.

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Though, galaxies apart in valuation, both Saudi and England have signed major sports talent in this transfer window. Chelsea has broken the British transfer record yet again while Saudi has managed to attract some good young talents. Let’s take a look at some of the transfers made by both the leagues.

Eye-grabbing transfers made by Saudi Pro League and Premier League

Saudi League took the footballing world by storm when Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr. The deal given to Ronaldo is estimated to earn him $220 million per year. Soon after the deal, it became very clear to the fans and top authorities that it was just the beginning. In this year’s transfer window, they have signed more world-class talents. Ruben Neves from Wolves, Jota from Celtic, Otavio from Sporting Lisbon, Aymeric Laporte from Manchester City, Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and Neymar from PSG among many others.

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Chelsea have spent big bucks again in this transfer window. The Todd Boehly’s side signed Moises Caicedo for a record $139 million from Brighton breaking the British transfer record again. Boehly has spent a total of $600 million in just two transfer windows. Arteta signed long-time target Declan Rice from West Ham for $125 million. Jurgen Klopp’s side spent $75 million to sign Dominik Szoboszlai and another $45 million for Alexis Mac Allister. Manchester United also spent $80 million on Rasmus Hojlund.

Although the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo has started a revolution, it will take time for the revolution to catch fire. With the media and fans skeptical about Saudi Arabia’s intention, it will be exciting to see what unfolds in the coming years.

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Watch this story: Meet the Legendary Tennis Player Who is 3x Richer than Cristiano Ronaldo

Do you think the Saudi Pro League will ever match the market valuation of the English Premier League? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Neil Banerjee, an adept soccer writer at EssentiallySports, embodies an unwavering passion for Chelsea Football Club, a team he has fervently supported since his childhood. With an innate ability to remain current on the latest developments in the soccer sphere, Neil possesses a distinct advantage in understanding the nuances of the sport. His profound appreciation for the tactical and analytical facets of the game underscore his belief that the true beauty of soccer lies within its intricacies of strategy.

Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra

Despite $914,084,981 Splurge After Cristiano Ronaldo’s Arrival, Saudi Pro League Falls Behind Premier League’s Billions

Premier League Vs. Saudi Pro League

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Eye-grabbing transfers made by Saudi Pro League and Premier League